Russell and Elna Mae Hanson Sorenson (Parents of Darrell H. Sorenson)

Russell Sorenson made his grand entrance into the Martin and Sarah Elizabeth Walton Sorenson family, on May 20, 1904, where five brothers and one sister were anxiously waiting his arrival.  During the next four years, Ella May was born, but at the age of six weeks died from pneumonia.  Than another bother and one more sister joined the family.

In this Family portrait, starting from the left on the back row are: Jesse Taylor, Thomas LeRoy, Richard Spencer, Martha Merinda, Ezra, William Clarence, and Russell on the far right.  On the front row, Lula Grace is standing next to her father Martin and Earl is standing next to his mother Sarah.

At the time Russell was born, the family was living on a Homestead north of Ovid.  their home was a typical log house.  There were two large rooms with a lean to and a loft which served as the sleeping room for the older boys.  Coal oil lamps were used for light and a wood burning cook stove and wood heaters provided the heat.  Water was carried from a nearby spring.  Some distance from the house was "Eleanor" the 'two-holer" with a generous supply of Montgomery Ward and Sears Catalogs.

In 1906 Russell's father was able to buy a larger home in Ovid which boardered the Ovid Creek.  He soon had a beautiful yard with scrubs, lawn, flowers, and a very productive garden.  He built a large barn, chicken coop, granary and black smith shop.

Some of Russell's first memories of their homestead were the arrival of the threshing machines in the fall.  They were noisy, slow moving monsters you could hear coming long before you saw them.  The Threshers would also move in their camp wagons, horses, equipment and a crew of several men.  Previously the grain had been cut with a horse drawn binder, the bundles placed in round-top stacks and everything was ready for the threshing of the grain.

Russell also remembered when a branch line of the union pacific Railroad was constructed from Montpelier, through Ovid, and on to Paris.  This was built to haul phosphate from mines in the Paris canyon to the main railroad line in Montpelier.  The railroad right of way cut through their lot and ruined their beautiful yard and garden.  Soon after this his parents started making plans to build a larger home.

The first passenger train was nicknamed "The Ping Pong"  this train would stop at the Ovid Depot and pick up any passengers.  It made tow trips daily and the passenger fare was ten cents.  It ran for twenty-nine years until 1943.

During his youth, Russell played with his cousins and friends.  Winter brought sleigh riding on the nearby hills, skiing, iceskating on the ponds and Ovid Creek, and eating of delicious home-made ice cream made from the thick cream skimmed from the top of the mild cans.  Summer brought the work in the fields but also fishing in the best fishing holes, and fun in the "ole swimmin' hole" hidden by the willows in the pasture.

Russell's family loved music.  One of the big attractions in Ovid, was a large dance pavilion.  His brother, Bill, played the trumpet in the dance band.  When dances weren't being held, the hall was used as a movie house.  Admission was 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children.

Russell attended school in Ovid in a two room frame building which later burned down.  He rode a horse to Paris every day for one year to attended high school at the Fielding Academy.  He felt education was not very important, so he quit school and went to Central Idaho, to work for his brothers Ezra and Roy.

Russell joined the US Cavalry Unit of the Idaho Nation Guard, which was stationed in Grace, Idaho.  He loved caring for the spirited, well trained horses.  This was right after World War l.

Elna Mae Hanson Sorenson made her grand entrance into this world on May 1, 1906 in Central Idaho.  Her sweet mother gave birth at home with the help of a midwife. They called her Elna Mae because she was born on the first day of May.  She was greeted by two brothers and one sister.  The Hanson Family was now complete.

In this family picture, beginning from the left is Alda Linnea, Elna Mae next to her mother Hadda, Eric Albert her father, Emery Albert, and Lawrence LeRoy.

Mae has often stated her fondest memories of her mother and father were their love, kindness and patience in trying to teach the family the right way of life.

She loved her parents and grandparents very much.  Her father was a quiet man of few words, never cross, but when he did speak it was to praise and not condemn.  Only once did she remember her father getting angry with her.  She had sassed her mother and received a spanking.  She was going to hit her mother when he intervened and really scolded her.  Her little heart was broken when he spoke to her like that, however the lesson was leaned and she never forgot to show respect for her mother from that time on.

Mae's father never did join the LDS Church, but he could be heard every Sunday morning saying, "Aren't you going to church today?"  It was a day of rest and he didn't work. He encouraged his family to do what was right and to be honest and truthful.

Mae loved animals, especially horses.  Her brother, Roy, taught her how to harness them and trim their manes and tails.  They had big, shiny beautiful, but very gentle horses, weighing form 1500 to 1800 pounds.

When Mae was six years old, her parents gave her a cow.  When she mastered the art of milking, they added another cow to her milking duties.  She was so thrilled that she would be helping out.  She names her cow, Mia-Mae Yohanna Johanna.  NO one else could milk her, nor bring her from the pasture.  The cow would go and stand in the pond and stay there until Mae would go get her.

Mae remembers helping her mother in the home, but she was mostly her father's helper.  she made her first money from squirrels, trapping over one hundred and selling their tails for a total of 98 cents.  With this hard earned money, she bought a cake plate with serving dishes as a Christmas gift for her mother.

Mae loved to be home.  When her parents went back to Sweden for a visit, she was very homesick, before they even left.  She was to stay with her mother's cousin Tekla.  When she came to get her, Mae hid in the outhouse, and told Tekla she couldn't leave home as she had to stand milk the cows.

School was a scary experience for Mae.  Her family and playmates all spoke Swedish at home and she knew very little English.  She was so shy but she had a very kind and loving teacher, Mrs. Robinson, who helped her.  She liked spelling and arithmetic and was very good in these subjects.  She loved school but was unable to finish high school because of being needed at home to help with the chores when her father fell out of the barn and broke his ribs.

Mae met her husband to be, Russell, one night at a church meeting.   He walked her home, leading his horse behind.  Later he purchased a car and she thought he was pretty neat, or at least the car.  He began courting her and said,.. "she was the beautifuliest girl there was in Central!"

After nearly two years of courtship, they were married May 22, 1926 in Pocatello, Idaho.  Russell was twenty-two and Mae had just turned twenty.  Mae's parents gave them a cow as their wedding gift and Russell's brother Roy gave them twelve chickens.  These gifts provided food for them as well as money from the sale of the eggs and cream.  They moved to Alexander where Russell worked on the railroad.  They lived upstairs in the section house above her sister and husband and enjoyed many good times together while living there.  Later they moved back to Central and worked for Roy and Ezra.

Eldon H. Sorenson

Their first child, a son, Eldon H., was born October 18, 1928 at Mae's parents home.  While Russell was waiting for the birth, he half soled a pair of shoes.  He was excited and proud when she gave birth to their twelve pound son, Darrell H. joined thier family on July 5, 1932, while they were still living in Central.  Russell Kent was born on September 7, 1942, and Steven H. on March 18, 1947, both at the hospital in Montpelier, Idaho.  they were so happy with their four boys.  Mae said the girls in the family would have to come as daughter-in-laws and grandchildren.

Mae holding Eldon

Darrell H. Sorenson

Steven H. and Russell Kent Sorenson

Russell and Mae decided to move back to Ovid when they had a chance to rent the John T. Peterson's farm.  They later purchased the farm and lived there for nearly thirty years.  Russell's brothers, Bill and Spence and their families lived in Ovid also.  Together, the brothers bought the far equipment they needed and shared it equally for over fifteen years without any serious disagreements.  They each had their own horses but in about 1940 they purchased the first tractor.  It was a W30 and was used to pull the company combine.  They each had their own plow, drill, and harrows, but they took turns using the tractor to pull them.  The brothers next purchased a five foot combined which had a grain bin so they didn't have to sack the grain.

Russell purchased his own tractor in the late forties, an Oliver, which was a great improvement over the W30.  His next purchase was a string tied baler, about the first such baler in Ovid.  He traded the Oliver tractor in on an John Deere tow cylinder which he used until the mid 1960's when he again traded for a John Deere 2020.  this he used until he stopped running the farm.  He also purchased a self propelled combined in the early 50's.  He used his personal equipment for doing custom work which helped with their living,

Russ and Mae were not rich in material things but they surely were in friends.  They always had time to visit and enjoy delicious meals with their family and friends.  NO one ever went away from their home hungry. The brothers and their wives and about four or five other couples in Ovid were always getting together and having parities and pulling pranks on one another.

Their sons had their complete support and they always took time to make it to all the track meets, the softball, basketball, and football games which their sons participated in.  All four lettered in various sports while attending hight school.

Christmas was a big event at the Sorenson home.  It began with a delicious Christmas Eve Dinner, next they opened their presents, and then to bed to wait for Santa's arrival.  Birthdays were another special event with Mae making and decorating a delicious cake, and cooking their favorite meal.  Many times the whole family, including uncles, aunts and cousins got together to celebrate their birthdays and the goys enjoyed many birthday parties with their friends.

Russell and Mae were not world travelers but they did go to Yellowstone Park a couple of times.  Once with Russell's brothers and wives and once with Mae's brother Roy and his wife Emma.  They traveled to Boise and Colorado with the Hanson's also.  Traveling wasn't a priority in their lives, they really just enjoyed being at home with family and friends.

Russell and Mae both served in the LDS Church most of their lives.  There was a period of time when they were not very active, but then they were reactivated and were able to be sealed for time and all eternity on August 1, 1937 in the Logan Temple with their sons.  Mae said she had almost given up on her dream of going to the temple.  She was so thrilled and happy.

Mae served in the Relief Society and Mutual Organizations, in the presidencies and as a teacher.  She has always enjoyed offering and giving compassionate service to those in need.  When she was living in Pocatello, and again while in Washington in her later years, she served as a Relief Society Visiting Teacher.

Russell served as a Ward Teacher, Counselor in the MIA and Elders Quorum and as a Counselor in the Bishopric for about nine years at which time the Scouting program really flourished.  He was then sustained a sBishop of the Ovid Ward, again serving for nine years.  while he was the Bishop, one of his goals was to have 100 percent ward teaching done each month for an entire year.  This goal was accomplished in 1962 and an article and a picture of all twenty-three ward teachers was published int he Church News.  When Russell and Mae moved to Pocatello, he again served as a Home Teacher.

Russell also was active in civic affairs, serving the Ovid School District as clerk and later as Chairman of the Board.  President of the Farm Bureau Community B. and on the county Planning Committee.  He helped build the Bear Lake County Airport during Word WAr 11 and was Chairman of the Ovid Cemetery Committee.  He was instrumental in the clearing of the sage brush, the planting of the lawn, and making the cemetery into a beautiful final resting place.

Russell and Mae moved form the ranch in Ovid in the 1960's and managed the Park Motel in Montpelier.  After several years there, they had the opportunity to move to Pocatello, and manage the Bidwell Motel.  They took advantage of this opportunity and eventually managed tow other motels there, there, The Travel Lodge, the Imperial 400, and the Thunderbird.  They purchased a home with their son, Eldon.  This was a beautiful duplex which bordered the Highland Golf Course.  They lived there together until Russell passed aways in May of 1981.  they loved their home on the hill and enjoyed the view, especially at night with many lights of the city.

Their family, in May of 1976, honored russell and Mae on their 50th Wedding Anniversary with an Open HOuse in Ovid at their son's home.  They were so thrilled with the large number of family and friends that came to help celebrate this joyous occasion with them.  They were surprised with the beautiful Wedding Cake made in their honor and they just loved every minute of the day including the family dinner afterward.

They were both fortunate in enjoying good health most of their lives.  Mae had an operation on her thyroid, ball bladder surgery, surgery for two new knees, both eyes operated on for cataracts, and a broken arm.  Most of these were after her seventy-fifth birthday.

Russell had surgery in 1967.  They did not expect him to live but he did recover and always believed it was because of the Priesthood blessing he received.

It was later discovered he had Sugar Diabetes and an enlarged heart.  In a visit to Washington to see Steven ad his family, he was hospitalized.  He did improve from this sickness but his heath was never the same.  He passed away on May 29, 1981 at his home in Pocatello with his beloved wife at his side.  This was just nine days after his 77th birthday.  HIs funeral was held in the Liberty Ward Chapel and he was laid to rest in the Ovid Cemetery which he helped to beautifully.  Russell and Mae were so blessed, sharing fifty-five wonderful years of married life together.

Mae enjoyed serving others all of her life.  When Steven's wife, Ann, passed aways very unexpectedly in 1988, leaving him with three children to raise, Mae left her home in Pocatello with only hours notice and stayed with him and his family for over three years.  she gave no thought of herself but only the service she could give the family.  She never did return to her home again but has lived with her sons.

Mae was always an adventuresome lady.  She has enjoyed all types of sports and loved to go to football volleyball, and soccer games.  At one of the family reunions she was one of the first to get into the raft and enjoy a ride on the reservoir.  The four wheeler provided a fun ride for her and getting into the  bee suit and learning about the beehives and bees are just some of the adventures she has engaged in while in her late eighties.  She has always been such a good sport and fun to be around.

She lived in Walla Walla Washington with her son Kent.  She also took turns spending time with her other three sons and their families.  She stayed active all of her life and loved to clean and polish wherever she went.  You have never seen a clean window until you see one sparkle after she has washed and shined it.  She enjoyed crocheting.  She always had to have her hands busy doing something.  Her friends were numberless and all loved and enjoyed her company.  When she returned to Walla Walla after spending a summer in Ovid, her neighbors had a banner posted welcoming her back.  She has a very strong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and believes in praying every day of her life.  She tells of the time when she was just a young girl and witnessed a heavenly visitation.  She has always trusted the Lord to help her through each day and night.  Mae enjoyed attending her church meetings when she could.  She loves her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She is so thankful to the Lord for his blessing in her behalf.  Her very favorite hymn is How Great Thou Art.  She would always sign this in cards before she would write her name.

For two years Mae took turns living with all four of her suns.  She felt that she would like to live in an Assisted Living Center so Eldon was able to find one in Cascade, Idaho which was about an hour from Eldon's.  So that became her new home in October of 1997.  It was a beautiful new log building that had room for about 12 people.  She had a nice corner room in the front and really loved it there. She was late moved to a nursing home in McCall Idaho where she quietly passed away .

The Legacy that she left her family is one of courage, faith and love.  She is greatly missed.